Frequency Page #3

The vault ignites, the tunnel "FLASHBACKS" -- a towering

geyser of FLAMES AND DIRT ERUPTING out of the manhole from

which Frank has just escaped.

In the distance, FLAMES erupt out of the other

manhole...engulfing the OIL TRUCK...blowing it into a million

pieces.

Through the INFERNO at the base of the Manhattan Bridge,

Frank can see that no one is hurt. His eyes glistening with

adrenaline and relief, he sits back against the building and

throws an arm around Gibson.

FRANK:

You did good, Gib. Real good.

Frank looks over at the hyperventilating Butch and smiles.

FRANK (CONT'D)

Elvis has left the building.

INT./EXT. MIDTOWN TUNNEL - MORNING

Inside the tunnel. Dark. Moving fast. Flashes of LIGHT

bounce off the shiny tile walls. The deep throated ROAR of a

'67 HARLEY battles with Martha & the Vandellas' HEAT WAVE.

We are with Frank, wearing a leather jacket with the insignia

of his fire-fighting unit emblazoned on it, and a New York

Mets BASEBALL CAP pulled down tight, as he rockets his

chopper through traffic, out of the tunnel, and up into...

EXT. QUEENS - STREETS - CONTINUOUS

CREDIT MONTAGE begins as Frank cruises home. It has STOPPED

RAINING. Frank passes by billboards and other evidence of

the approaching METS/BALTIMORE ORIOLES World Series.

He circles a LITTLE LEAGUE ball field waving to some

OLDSTERS.

EXT. SULLIVAN HOUSE - QUEENS - CONTINUOUS

Frank glides the Harley alongside his house. A feisty

DALMATIAN PUPPY ELVIS barks his welcome from behind a fence.

Feeling fatigued, Frank dismounts and enters teh backyard,

playing for a moment with Elvis while he uprights a TRAINING

BICYCLE, tidies up BASEBALL EQUIPMENT, and glances up at a

HAM RADIO ANTENNA secured to the roof, before entering

through a backdoor. There is a sense of routine to all this.

INT. SULLIVAN HOUSE - KITCHEN - CONTINUOUS

The kitchen is empty. Breakfast dishes in the sink. Frank

flips on the RADIO. It plays out under the rest of the

MONTAGE as coverage of the oil truck crash blends into other

news stories.

A note on the refrigerator reads: 8:15. Hey, Bud. I'm off

to work. Johnny's at school. Elvis is fed. I luvs you.

Setting a grapefruit and a slice of toast on the table, Frank

glances at the Daily News. But his eyes are tired, he stares

off into space...letting go.

INT. SULLIVAN HOUSE - MASTER BATHROOM - CONTINUOUS

A radio in the bedroom is tuned to sports news. Frank soaks

in a hot bath. He looks like he might fall asleep - and

does.

CREDITS END.

INT. SULLIVAN HOUSE - MASTER BEDROOM - AFTERNOON

CRASH! A SOFTBALL BLOWS through the window from the

BACKYARD, landing on the rug next to the bed. Frank bolts

awake, staring at the busted window.

He checks the clock. It is 5:15. He steps to the broken

window. SEVERAL SMALL BOYS scurry from the yard. Two

others, JOHNNY SULLIVAN and GORDO HERSCH, both 6, stand

frozen in place. Elvis tears in circles around them. All is

very quiet. Then, from somewhere beyond the bedroom door, we

HEAR The Beatles' BACK IN THE THE USSR...

INT. SULLIVAN HOUSE - KITCHEN - CONTINUOUS

JULIA SULLIVAN, 32, is rockin' out, chopping vegetables.

JULIA:

(singing to song)

...show me 'round the smokey mountains

way down south...

Adorable, sweet and strong. Strawberry blonde hair, sapphire

eyes, soft earthy vibe. A beauty.

Frank, wearing FDNY sweats, moves into the kitchen flipping

the softball from hand to hand. Julia turns to him and rolls

her eyes at the sight of the ball. Say no more.

FRANK:

Hey, bud.

JULIA:

Hey, bud.

Without breaking stride, he gives her a smack on the lips and

steps to the screen door to the back porch.

EXT. SULLIVAN HOUSE - BACKYARD - CONTINUOUS

Johnny stands nervously outside the door. Elvis sits at his

side. Gordo watches from the safety of his own porch next

door. Frank opens the screen door, casts a stern look down

at his son.

FRANK:

Looks like two weeks worth of allowance,

Chief.

JOHNNY:

I know. Sorry, Dad.

FRANK:

Glad to hear that.

And Frank drops the softball into Johnny's mitt, closes the

screen door and turns back into the kitchen. Johnny turns

away into the yard.

INT. SULLIVAN HOUSE - KITCHEN - CONTINUOUS

With a shrug, and sharing a kids will be kids smile with

Julia, he grabs a cold Rheingold from the refrigerator and

heads into...

INT. SULLIVAN HOUSE - FAMILY ROOM - CONTINUOUS

...past a CONSOLE TELEVISION, to the HI-FI

FRANK:

(calling to Julia)

How about a little of the King?

JULIA (O.S.)

(from kitchen)

Well, why not a little of the King?

Julia crosses her eyes, as if she could stop him. Frank

moves to change records.

INT. SULLIVAN HOUSE - KITCHEN

Suddenly, a PAN of spaghetti sauce bubbles over.

JULIA:

Damn.

FRANK (O.S.)

You alright?

JULIA:

I think I ruined the sauce...again.

As Elvis' SUSPICIOUS MINDS plays, Frank steps back in, moves

up behind Julia, and takes her in his arms.

FRANK:

What's the matter, Jules? Trouble

workin' an eight hour shift, watching the

kid and whipping up a little bolognese?

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